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Commissioners to consider audit funding, handing over Boyd Park [LaGrange Daily News, Ga.](LaGrange Daily News (GA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 13--The county may face an increase in its audit cost this year. County Commission is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to contract with LaGrange-based accounting firm J.K. Boatwright to conduct the county's annual audit of its finances. The firm has previously performed the county's audits. This year's audit would cost the county about $17,000 more than last year, a total cost of about $145,000, County Manger Todd Tentler said during Friday morning's commission work session. Tentler said the increase is due to three factors: LaGrange-Callaway Airport becoming part of the county and subject to the audit, a one-time cost for conversion for the county's new computer software and the new TAVT vehicle tag costs paid to the Tax Commissioner's Office that are subject to auditing. In another matter, the commission also is expected to vote Tuesday to hand over operation and maintenance of the Boyd Park amphitheatre to the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority. The hand off, if approved, would occur after the project is completed. The City of LaGrange would still own the property, as it does now, but the authority would manage the day-to-day operations of the facility, Tentler said. The city already has approved the matter. The amphitheater is part of a special-purpose, local-option sales tax fund, or SPLOST, project using $1.1 million from joint countywide SPLOST funds, $400,000 from the city and $6 million from the Callaway Foundation. The county is managing the construction project, which it contracted to West Point-based Batson-Cook. The amphitheater is expected to open in early 2016. Also Friday, Sheriff's Office officials requested creating a lieutenant position to promote a sargeant into in the criminal investigations division as part of restructuring its chain of command. Chief Deputy Jon Whitney said the promotion would allow for a clearer delegation of authority. The promotion would not call for an increase in the sheriff's office budget, Whitney and Sheriff James Woodruff said. Tentler said that a position left open in the sheriff's department, one Woodruff told Commissioners he didn't intend to fill, funds are available to give the new lieutenant position a $2,000 annual increase in pay without increasing the budget. Tentler did note that other departments had requested similar changes and were told to wait until the middle of the budget year when the county knew more about its financial situation, however those departments' requests would require budget increases while the sheriff's positions does not. Commissioners are expected to vote on the matter Tuesday. Commission meets at 9 a.m. at the County Government Center on Ridley Avenue. During the meeting, commissioners also will consider a human resources matter to name two current employees as county clerk and deputy clerk. Tentler said that the county's audits in the past couple of years have recommended splitting the previously combined county clerk and finance officer positions. Tentler also announced Friday the hiring of Herbert "Buddy" Caswell as the county's new finance officer effective Sept. 29. Friday's meeting lasted roughly 15 minutes and concluded with Tentler telling commissioners the county would ask their permission to sell a real estate property located on Swanson Drive, with the condition that the buyer demolish a dilapidated property there within 60 days of purchase. ___ (c)2014 the LaGrange Daily News (LaGrange, Ga.) Visit the LaGrange Daily News (LaGrange, Ga.) at www.lagrangenews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |